Franking machine control

Abstract

A system for controlling a franking machine from a remote computer comprises control software for controlling the franking machine, communications apparatus for the franking machine to communicate with the computer, a user application operating on the computer to interface with the control software via the communications apparatus, and a programming library for communicating with the user application, the programming library providing the user application with a series of functional controls of the franking machine. A method for operating a franking machine using the functional controls. A computer readable medium containing the programming library.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for controlling a franking machine from a remote computer, comprising: 
 control software for controlling said franking machine;    communications apparatus for said franking machine to communicate with said computer;    a user application operating on said computer to interface with said control software via said communications apparatus; and    a programming library for communicating with said user application, said programming library providing said user application with a series of functional controls of said franking machine.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said functional controls include at least one item selected from the group consisting of connection, configuration, actions, departments and statistics.  
     
     
         3 . A computer readable medium having stored therein computer readable code for interacting with a user application running on a computer communicating with a franking machine, said computer readable code comprising: 
 a programming library for communicating with said user application, said programming library providing said user application with a series of functional controls of said franking machine.    
     
     
         4 . The computer readable medium of  claim 3  wherein said functional controls include at least one item selected from the group consisting of connection, configuration, actions, departments and statistics.  
     
     
         5 . A method for operating a franking machine which is in communication with a computer, comprising: 
 running a user application on said computer;    accessing a programming library for communicating with said user application, said programming library providing said user application with a series of functional controls of said franking machine.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising performing at least one operation using said functional controls, wherein said functional controls include at least one item selected from the group consisting of connection, configuration, actions, departments and statistics.